Day 3: Three turning points

[Karen Haas]

Provide your insights into what makes the scenes great and what makes the turning points work:
What I learned from GET OUT: Each scene gave the viewer a major twist that sent us into the next act. The Hypnosis scene provides the mechanism for the mother to control the hero’s body. The second scene, at the midpoint is the Get Out shout during the party. It gave us a Warning, a premonition of what will happen to the hero; he will become a controlled body with no free will if he doesn’t heed the warning. The third scene, the Act 2 turning point is the “Give me the keys,” scene, the last ditch attempt of the hero to leave this dangerous place before the takeover of his body will start. It was an agonizing scene, drawn out artfully by the filmmaker, like a nightmare. Each scene provides a major turning point from which there is no going back. Collectively, these scenes make me realize that my screenplay must provide more powerful turning points so that the main character cannot simply walk away and say forget it.

[Mary Albanese]

Great Scenes – TURNING POINTS
GET OUT
Act 1 turning point. What makes it great? Why does it work? What’s the twist? What’s the SCENE ENDING?
Chris doesn’t believe in hypnosis. Mom Missy goes from being concerned about how he is feeling, to stirring her cup and pushing him to relive his worst day. Using that fear to trap him in the “sunken (helpless) place. She sees him there, intrigued at his fear and pain. Now he knows these people have this weird power. THE TWIST: They CAN hypnotize him and make him vulnerable and powerless. Scene ending: HE EXPERIENCES his vulnerability as Missy watches him without any feeling.
Midpoint – Logan freaks out. He starts out saying being black is an advantage, with his old big white GF. Ewwww. We know that’s not right. Chris takes a picture. Logan’s nose bleeds (physical damage). Then he changes. “GET OUT.” He literally attacks Chris. They bring him in later and he’s zombie glad to be “safe” with his old white GF. Now Logan knows they did something to Logan to change him. THE TWIST: They don’t just make you feel powerless, they can change you into a zombie. Scene ending: LOGAN has been totally re-zombified.
Act 2 Turning point – Rose and the keys. Chris starts out trying to get the car keys that Rose has. She fumbles. The Dad says creepy stuff, ramping up Chris’ fear. The BROTHER does creepy attack things, ramping up Chris’ fear. Tea-stirring Mom enters. Chris calls Rose 10 times – more fear with each time. Finally, he says “where are those keys, Rose?” He’s questioning/figuring out she may be in on it. Her motives unmasked, she abruptly admits it. “You know I can’t give them to you, right babe?” The TWIST – THIS WHOLE THING WAS A SETUP/BETRAYAL from the very start. Scene ending: He’s BACK IN THE SUNKEN PLACE as “one of Rose’s favorite victims” ending with not only pain and fear and powerlessness but TOTAL HUMILIATION.